Apparatus for grinding lenses



- E. J. FINK. APPARATUS FOR GRINDING LENSES;

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. I920.

Patented Dec. 12, 19212.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

E. J. FINK.

APPARATUS FOR GRINDING LENSES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. I920.

Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

3 sIIEETs-sI-IEEI 2.

nvemufoz E. J. FINK.

APPARATUS FOR'GRINDING LENSES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. 1920.

1,438,909. Patented De 2, 1922. 3 SHE HEET 3.

l nterned El en. l2, M322.

EDVTARD J. FINE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPATrtATUS FOR GRINDING LENSES.

Application filed June 9, 1920.

To alt whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD J. Finn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Grinding Lenses, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to apparatus for grinding lenses and has as its object an arrangement, simple in construction and operation, for carrying out the grinding operation in a highly expeditious manner.

It a particular object to have a plurality of lens blanks and a plurality of grinding laps in such a relationship as to expedite the preliminary work of bringing a lens blank or a pair of lens blanks to be ground quickly.

in operative relation to the proper lap.

It-is another special object to so dispose a plurality of lens blanks and a plurality of aps that lenses may be expeditiously formed with zones of different curvatures.

Other objects will appear from the specification and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

F or a full understanding of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in 'which-- Fig.1 is a side elevation of a. device embodying the invention, a part being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of another form of the invention, parts being shown in section; I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing certain structural detail of Figs. 1' and 2;

Fig. 4 is an edge view of a detail;

Fig. 5 is in part an elevation and in part a section of a detail arrangement;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the part shown in l? ig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is in part an elevation and in part a section of another form of detail similar to that shown in Fig. 5. I

Figs. 1 and 2 show two embodiments of the invention. It is understood that I do not intendto be limited to these two forms, since the invention may find expression in various other ways.

Having reference to Fig. 1. two wheels or pulleys 1 and 2- support an endless belt 3 which carries a plurality of lens carriers e which in turn carry lens blanks Serial No. 387,740.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 7 the lens carriers are composed of alens-holding plate 7 resting on the outer side of the conveyor and a plate 8 bearing against the inner side of the conveyor. The plate 8 has a. projection 9 passing through a perforation in the conyeyor. A screw 10 extends through plate '7 into the projection to secure plates 7 and 8 together. By properly fitting the'projection 9 relatively to the thickness of the conveyor,

the lens carriers may be so secured to the so conveyor that undue wear of the conveyoris avoided.

As indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 the conveyor may be practically relieved. of all strain by interconnecting the plates 8. may be provided with links 11 and 12 adapted to. receive pins 13 or any other form of hinge cdnnection may be used.

The plates 8 are shown as shaped to fit the perimeter of the wheels 1 and the position of the lens may be accurately determined relatively to thr lap. In practice, however, it is not necessary that the' plate 8 follow the contour of the wheel.

The plates 8 may be cu-rved to fit the smallest wheel and may define with the peripheral surfaces of the larger wheels crescentshaped spaces. bearing on'the wheel at the two ends only. i

The wheels 1 and 2 cylindrical shoulders 15 projecting from the peripheral surface thereof and forming seats for the edge portion of the carrier plates 8 and have flanges 14 between which the plates 8 have an accurate fit to avoid the possibility of lateral movement of the lens carriers.

lln the form shown in Figs. 3.4- and 5 the plates 8 are shown as provided with a central rib 16 carrying teeth 1'7 for engagement blanks or 60 The plates 8 s5 2 so that 90 are provided with 100 therefor.

riers are simultaneously in engagementv with the wheels 1 and 2. The teeth need not extend to the bottom of the grooves of the rack 18.

The lens blanks thus may be successively brought within the sphere of action of a lap,

cylindrical or spherical as the case may be,-

of the proper form. The ground lenses may be readily detached and others substituted The removal of a lens carrier from the conveyor and the attachment of a lens carrier thereto'is a simple operation.

Fig. 2 shows a form which differs from the form shown in Fig. 1 principally in that a plurality otlaps is brought into operative l position to the conveyor 20. In the particular instance are shown three laps 21, 22 and 23 placed opposite wheels 24, 25, and 26. These wheels may be of the same diameter or of different diameter as shown according ment is "obvious.

is incompressible.

to whether a curved surface of one diameter or whether different curves on. the same surface are desired.

The laps, spherical or cylindrical, as the case may be, may be of different radii for -gI'1I1Cl1Ilg d1fierent curves on the same lens surface.

It is thus possible to easily and quickly produce different dioptric effects on different parts of a lens surface.

While I have shown three laps and threewheels, the arrangement may be adapted to include a larger number of grinding units. Idlers 27 may be provided to accurately determine the position of the lens carriers on the different wheels where necessary.

The conveyor or belt may be sufficiently wide to overlap the operating mechanism inside and underneath it to protect it against abrasives, water, etc. which is incident, to the grinding and polishing operations and thus insure the proper function of the mechanism.

. There is considerable latitude in the selection ofthe material for the conveyor. Rubber, leather, flexible metal or combinations thereof may be used to advantage.

The lens carriers may be interconnected in various ways and by various-means within the scope of theinvention.

The operative significance of. the arrange- The lens carrier, which comprises the parts 7 and 8, being of metal It assumes and maintains a definite predetermined unalterable position upon the wheel or pulley while it passes into-and through the sphere of action of the grinding lap. The radial distance from the axis of the wheel to the outer surface of the carrier remains absolutely constant during the travel of the carrier past the grinding lap and therefore the path prescribed for the lens blank which is secured upon the carrier is a true and mathematically accurate curve. the dioptric curve generated upon the lens blank by the grinding lap acting upon it is alsomathematically true.

. In practice the diameter of the wheel is so chosen that the combined the axis of the wheel to the surface to be formed, including a predetermined thickness of the lens, generates the dioptric curve required. The distance from the axis of the wheel to the outer surface of the lens blank, therefore, must be atleast equal to or greater than the radius of the finished lens. Since this applies to all the lens carriers and all the lenses to be ground upon the same wheel, the resulting lenses can be made substantially uniform, it being possible to control in well known manner the move grinding lap toward the lens 1. In apparatus for grinding lenses, a-

fiexible conveyor supporting a plurality 0t lens blanks and a wheel for prescribing a definitely curved path for the lens blanks.

2. In apparatus for grinding lenses, a flexible conveyor supporting a plurality of lens carriers and a wheel for defining a path of definite curvaturefor the lens carriers.

3. In apparatus for grinding lenses, a wheel of definite curvature, a conveyor pass ing over the wheel and supporting a plurality of lens carriers, said lens carriers having parts bearing upon the curved surface of the wheel.

4. In apparatus for grindin lenses, an endless belt supporting a pluriility of lens blanks and a. wheel for defining a path of definite curvature for the lens blanks.

5. In apparatus for grinding lenses, an endless belt supporting a plurality of lens blanks and a plurality of wheels for defining a plurality of paths of different curvatures torthe lens blanks.

6. In apparatus for grinding lenses, an endless belt supporting a plurality of lens blanks and a plurality of wheels for defining a. plurality of paths of different curvatures for the lens blanks.

7. In apparatus for grinding lenses, a belt and a plurality of lens carriers mount ed thereon, said carriers comprising a lensholding plate disposed on one side of the In consequence distance from I naaaaoe belt, a plate disposed on the other side of the belt and means extending through the belt for securing said plates to each other.

8. In apparatus for grinding lenses, a

"belt and a plurality of lens carriers mounted thereon and means for pivotally interconnecting the adjoining ends of the lens carriers. l

9. In apparatus for grinding lenses, a belt and a plurality of lens carriers mounted thereon, said carriers comprising a lensholding plate disposed on the outer side of the belt, a platedisposed, on the inner side of the belt, means extending through the belt for securing the plates to each other and means for pivotally interconnecting the adjacent ends of the plates on the inner side of the belt. i

10. The combination of a Wheel, an endon the Wheel and the lens carriers for atfol-ding a positive interlocking engagement against relative movement in the direction of travel of the belt.

11. The combination of a Wheel an andless helt passing around said Wheel and carrying a plurality of lens carriers, means for interconnecting the adjacent ends of the carriers and means on the Wheel and the lens carriers for affording a positive locking engagement against relative movement in the direction of travel of the belt.

the Wheel and forming seats for. the lens carriers and means on the Wheel for guiding the lens carriers against lateral play.

14:. In apparatus for grinding lenses, a Wheel, a plurality of pivotally interconnected lens carriers forming an endless carrier around said Wheel, cylindrical shoulders projecting from the peripheral surface of the wheel and forming seats for the lateral edge portions of the carriers and flanges rising from said shoulders for guidin" the carriers against lateral play. 7

In testimony whereof, I afiix my sie'nlafture.

EDWARD J NK. 

